Monday’s Meander

Tiptoeing through today’s timely tulips…
Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, was born on this day in 1765. Coaxial cable was patented in 1931. Jim Morrison would have been 60. John died 23 years ago today. Imagine.

Microsoft is retiring Windows 98 December 15, claiming it necessary for compliance with a 2001 court order in the dispute with Sun over Java. Other Java enabled products that will be pulled from the shelves include SQL Server 7, Office XP Developer, and a number of Office 2000-related tools and patches.

Yahoo is proposing a new, open, mail authentication system that would virtually eliminate anonymous spam if the big emailers adopted it. This is the system our entire panel supported on Friday’s Spam Attack Open Mike. Bravo Yahoo!

IBM wins one. In a preliminary hearing in the SCO vs. IBM case, a Utah judge has approved two motions from IBM asking for more information. SCO now has 30 days to explain exactly how IBM and Linux have infringed on SCO’s copyrights.

Kazaa is using the DMCA to try to shutdown the illicit Kazaa Lite K++. Sharman Networks, creators of the real Kazaa, is apparently contacting ISPs of servers that host K++ for download, threatening them with prosecution under the DCMA. Of course, you could probably find the program on P2P networks like, say, Kazaa.

IBM will present a paper today claiming that they’ve found a way to use “molecular self-assembly” to build semiconductors. Interesting. That’s how I put on my hairpiece every morning.

Google is asking a US court to rule on whether keyword ads are a trademark violation. American Blind and Wallpaper has threatened the Internet search engine with a lawsuit because it popped up competitors’ ads when users searched for American Blind.

“Microsoft is retiring Windows 98 December 15, claiming it necessary for compliance with a 2001 court order in the dispute with Sun over Java. Other Java enabled products that will be pulled from the shelves include SQL Server 7, Office XP Developer, and a number of Office 2000-related tools and patches. ”
I guess that’s one way to make sure everyone buys XP and Office 2003. Hmm, I have XP home but Office 2000 pro. Maybe its time to upgrade….

I think that caller was right about Patrick. Expecially on screensavers. His advice is often bad. He MIGHT be tech smart (in an Athlon overclocking- MS bashing sort of way) but he is not entertaining. And he often fails to get a read on a caller to truly be able to help them. He wouldnt last on a real tech support help desk. He is more of a back room kernel recompiler than a real world IT type. I think Kevin would be a better side kick for the show. He at least takes cues from you Leo about how to handle callers/issues and realizes when its time to ‘dumb it down’.
Shawn.

http://www.tvweek.com/topstorys/120803comcast.html
Yeah, got any scoop on the whole Comcast buy out and the TechTV/G4 merger? I’ve seen G4 a few times while I in Orlando and I have to say, its pretty bad. Its a whole channel of pretty boys in designer outfits talking about video games with the same passion as my intro to Psych teacher back in freshman year. Please don’t let them trash TechTV.